Provisional Blog

Gossiping. Drunken karaoke. Throwing up in the bathroom. A frat party? Nope. We’re talking about the office holiday party. As a Seattle employment agency, we’ve heard it all. But acting inappropriately at a work party can seriously damage your reputation and, in some cases, even result in you losing your Seattle job. So how can you ensure you get through your office party without a hitch? Start by avoiding these 5 blunders:

1.) Skipping the office holiday party.

Everyone has busy schedules and a lot to do, especially at the end of the year. But that’s no excuse for skipping out on your office holiday party. One reason your company throws a holiday party is to recognize and reward employees. By not attending (without a really good reason), you’re signaling that you’re not a team player.

2.) Not taking full advantage of networking opportunities.

Your office party is a great opportunity to mingle with your best office buddies, as well as connect with people you don’t get to work with regularly. So get out of your comfort zone and invest the effort to introduce yourself to people you don’t know.

3.) Drinking too much.

While drinking at most holiday parties is perfectly appropriate, getting completely wasted is not. You could do or say something stupid and harm your reputation, or worse, get fired if you make a really egregious error. When you’re at your office holiday party, don’t make drinking the main focus and limit your drinking to one or two cocktails. If you do drink too much, and you behave poorly, then make amends and apologize the next day. Don’t ignore the behavior and hope no one noticed. Trust us, they did.

4) Dressing provocatively.

Dressing provocatively, no matter how festive the occasion, is distracting and inappropriate for a work party. Dressing poorly can impact how others perceive you and ultimately hurt your credibility. Tight, sexy, or suggestive attire should be left at home. That said, you don’t have to dress in the same clothes you wear to work. A party dress or more casual attire is fine, as long as it’s tasteful.

5) Bringing people not invited.

Thanks to budget cuts, it’s not uncommon to not invite an employee’s spouse to the holiday office party. If that’s the case, then don’t bring your husband, wife, children or second cousin. If you’re unclear whether or not your spouse is invited, then ask your boss ahead of time. Don’t make assumptions.

What about you? What are some of the worst office holiday party blunders you’ve encountered?

Let’s face it. Thanksgiving is really an ideal holiday. You get to spend time with your loved ones, watch football, eat lots of turkey and stuffing, and take a nap – all without having to spend a ton of money on gifts.

That said, Thanksgiving is about a lot more than just indulging. It’s also about taking the time to reflect on our blessings and give thanks for them. Unfortunately, sometimes that “giving thanks” part seems to get lost in the shuffle. So we at Provisional would like to take a moment to make sure we give thanks for our many blessings this year – in particular, our clients, candidates, and staff.

As a Seattle staffing agency, we know that without our clients, we simply would not exist. We are so grateful for your continued support and for the productive relationships we’ve been able to develop with you. We are truly honored that you’ve put your trust and loyalty into our Seattle staffing agency and we pledge to continue delivering the high quality candidates and flexible staffing solutions you depend on.

We’d also like to thank our many wonderful job candidates. Finding a job in Seattle can be tough right now. And we are so grateful that you’ve chosen Provisional to help you in your job search. We don’t just look at you as a candidate, we also look at you as a customer. As a result, we always have your best interest at heart and will continue to strive to match you with full-time positions, or temporary job assignments, that are a great fit for you.

And finally, we’d also like to thank our internal staff for all your dedication and hard work. Your commitment to Provisional has never wavered, even during a difficult recession. As a result, we’ve been able to continue to meet the needs of our valued clients and candidates. We are so grateful for your efforts and, thanks to you, we see a bright future ahead for our Seattle staffing agency.

So now that you know what we’re thankful for, tell us about what you’re thankful for. Family? Friends? A great new job in Seattle? Whatever it is, we want to know!

You’ve been searching for a job in Seattle for months. You keep submitting your cover letter and resume, but either get a form rejection note, or you hear nothing at all. So what can you do to improve your results and shorten your Seattle job search? Here are some tips:

1) You need to be proactive.

It’s easy to submit your resume and sit back and wait for the phone to ring. But in order to shorten your Seattle job search, you need to be more proactive. If you don’t hear anything back a week after submitting your resume, follow up with an email or a phone call. The worst that can happen is you are told your qualifications aren’t a good fit. If that’s the case, then you’re actually in better shape then when you started because you won’t spend anymore time thinking about the job opening. You can cross it off your list and move on.

2) You need to be targeted.

As you probably know, sales is a numbers game. And in a job search, you’re essentially trying to sell yourself to an employer. That said, you should not just submit your resume to every available job opening in Seattle. You may feel more productive by doing this, but you probably won’t get great results. Instead, take a more targeted approach. Focus on very specific industries, employers, or kinds of positions.

3) You need to network, even if you don’t see immediate results.

Good networking takes a lot of time and energy. And sometimes, it can be frustrating if you don’t see positive results right away. But keep at it. Networking is one of the best ways to find a new job in Seattle. So whether it’s in person, or online, make sure you’re getting in the game through networking. Also, when you see an opportunity to help or connect other people – seize it. As the saying goes, “what goes around, comes around.”

4) You need to customize your cover letter and resume.

When you’re searching for a job for a while and sending out lots of resumes, it can be tempting to submit the same cover letter and resume to every single job opening. But it’s important you customize both for the particular job opening for which you’re applying. That doesn’t mean re-write your resume every time you submit it. It simply means that you need to include examples of how your skills and background are a good fit for a particular position and company.

5) You need to tap into the hidden job market.

Develop a relationship with a Seattle employment agency. You’ll benefit in a variety of ways. First, employment agencies have access to job opportunities in Seattle that aren’t advertised. They also have relationships with employers and know what kinds of skills they’re looking for. In addition, a Seattle employment agency can help you craft a stronger cover letter and resume, as well as help you prepare for an interview.

If you’d like to learn more about how a Seattle employment agency can help you shorten your job search, please contact Provisional.

So how can you tell if it’s time to move on from your current Seattle job? Here are some signs to look for:

1. Your job is beginning to impact your health.

You’re so stressed about work that you’re suffering from symptoms such as:

• Weight gain or loss
• Frequent illness
• Sleeplessness
• Depression
• Chronic fatigue

2. You feel bored and uninspired.

Everyone goes through natural cycles in their jobs where they may feel motivated and excited one week, and uninspired the next. However, if you feel consistently bored and unchallenged, you may have outgrown your position.

3. Your job is interfering with your family responsibilities.

Most companies, nowadays, understand that employees who lead balanced lives are ultimately happier and more productive. However, if your employer is not among this group, then it may be time to move on.

4. Your potential for advancement seems limited.

Your company’s management may have pigeon-holed you as an expert in one area, though you know your skill set exceeds that area. It’s therefore up to you to convince them that you can take on new tasks and responsibilities. If they’re not open to the idea, then you may want to start looking for a new job.

5. You keep thinking about changing jobs.

If the thought of changing jobs is always on your mind, then it’s time to start asking yourself some questions, such as:

• What don’t I like about my current job?
• Has something happened in my work environment that is causing my unhappiness, such as a change in management or industry downturn?
• Are there any steps I can take to make things better?

LinkedIn offers a variety of advantages to job seekers. It provides invaluable networking opportunities, it’s a great way to promote your skills, and you can even search for jobs in Seattle, Spokane, and throughout the Northwest.

So if you’ve never used LinkedIn before, here are 7 tips for getting started:

Tip #1: Create a profile.

Your LinkedIn profile is similar to an online resume. On it, you can list your employment history, education, and other skills and qualifications. When creating your profile, make sure you include keywords – like “Seattle accountant” – so that prospective employers can find you easily. Also, if you have a professional looking headshot, consider uploading that as well to your profile.

Tip #2: Develop a network.

The larger your network, the more potential opportunities you’ll have access to. With that said, don’t try to connect with everyone out there. Keep it simple and connect only with those professionals that you already know and trust.

Tip #3: Reach out.

Contact the people within your network to let them know you’re searching for a job in Seattle. Many job openings aren’t advertised to the general public, so you may find some interesting opportunities this way.

Tip #4: Ask for recommendations.

Recommendations are like testimonials. They can truly position you in the best possible light and are therefore invaluable. Ask a variety of your contacts – former bosses, colleagues, and subordinates – for recommendations for your LinkedIn profile.

Tip #5: Use the “Find Jobs” section.

In the “Find Jobs” section, you can search for Seattle jobs that may interest you using a title, company name, and other keywords.

Tip #6: Get involved.

LinkedIn has a section entitled “Answers.” Here you can post questions you may have about your job search or about your professional field. You can also respond to questions other LinkedIn users may have. Doing so will not only increase your visibility among potential Seattle employers, but it will also help you build your credibility.

Tip #7: Check company profile pages.

Many Seattle employers have their own profile pages on LinkedIn. So if you have a company in mind that you’d like to work for, see if they have a page on LinkedIn. If they do, check out their “New Hires” section. If you notice a lot of new people have recently joined the company, then that company may still be hiring.

Also, review the company’s list of current employees. You may know someone on the list and be able to make a connection. Ask them the scoop on getting hired at the company and to forward your resume to the hiring manager. A hiring manager is more likely to review a resume that comes from someone he or she already knows.

Searching for a new Seattle job can be both challenging and discouraging. Therefore, you have to use every tool available to you – including social media – in order to get positive results. And if you’d like some additional help in finding a job in Seattle, or anywhere in the Northwest, please don’t hesitate to contact Provisional. As a leading Seattle employment firm, we can give you access to a variety of exciting and rewarding job opportunities.